You
Can Fly an R/C Airplane!!!!

How do I get started?

Check it out: Knowing what you're
getting into helps. Reading the rest of this article will be a good start
but there are also many excellent books and videos that cover
all aspects of building, flying, aerobatics, etc.

Find an instructor: With an instructor, you'll learn faster, and
with less frustration, than you can on your own. If the instructor has a
radio with a buddy box
(trainer system) feature, you'll be able to buy a compatible radio and learn to fly with
less risk to your plane. There are a number of different ways to find an instructor. Check
with friends in the hobby. Check the phone book for flying clubs.
Attend Fun Fly events (see newspapers or free circulars for dates & times), and ask
around. Of course, one of the best sources of club information is the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). You can call
them at 1-317-287-1256 or write to: 5151 East Memorial Drive, Muncie, IN 47302 and ask for
the location of the club nearest you.

Pick your power: Traditionally, power for R/C airplanes has been a 2-stroke
or 4-stroke engines burning a methanol/nitro-methane/oil mixture called glow fuel. However, there are
also electric motors which offer
clean, quiet, electric flight, and gasoline which offers fuel economy

Frequently asked beginner questions

How much does it cost?
A lot depends on your budget. You can spend as little as $100.00 or as much as $1000.00 on
assembling the basics. Average cost for a complete (but no frills) beginner's package,
however, still runs around $250- $400.

How
fast does a model go?
Trainers usually cruise at 25-30 mph and can land at speeds as slow as 12-15 mph. However,
there are also unmodified, off-the-shelf airplanes that can deliver speeds of up to 200
mph!

How far can a model fly?
The range for a modern R/C system is about a mile. However, to maintain control, you need
to have your model close enough to tell what it is doing. Even a plane with a 5-6 foot
wingspan looks tiny at half a mile.

What happens if I run out of fuel in flight?
Contrary to popular belief, you have control even if your engine stops running. You just
glide your plane in for a "dead stick" landing. The radio system has its own
batteries for power.

Choosing your first plane

After reviewing the Flying Basics below, you should have a good idea of the
design characteristics you will want in your first plane and certainly more than ready to
get started. After practicing the basics of flying and gaining some confidence
"behind the sticks", you will want to explore the many other exciting styles of
R/C aircraft.

Flying Basics

Aerodynamics: To fly, an airplane's wing has to overcome gravity by
developing lift greater than the weight of the plane. Since it can't do that
standing still, airplanes use thrust...force directed backwards...to drive the wing
forward through the air and generate lift. However, thrust has its own opposition to
overcome in the form of drag - the resistance of the air to a body moving through
it. If lift and thrust are greater than gravity and drag, the potential for flight...and
fun...is there.

Wing Location: Wing placement, for the most part, falls into two major
categories: high wing design and low wing design. In a
high wing design, the weight of the model is suspended below the wing. When the model
tilts, the model's weight tends to try to return the model to a level position. As a
result, high-wing models tend to be more stable, easier to fly - and natural choices as
trainers. A low-wing model is generally the opposite: with its weight
above the wing, it tends to be less stable - excellent for advanced fliers who want to
perform rolls, loops and other aerobatic maneuvers.

Airfoil: If you face the wingtip of the plane and cut it from front to back, the
cross section exposed would be the wing's airfoil. There are three major categories of
airfoil. The Flat-Bottom Airfoil will develop the most
lift at low speeds. This is ideal for trainers and first-time pilots.
A Symmetrical Airfoil's top and bottom have the same shape allowing it to produce lift
equally when right-side up or upside down and transition between the two smoothly. Lastly,
is a Semi-symmetrical Airfoil which is a combination of the other two and favored by
intermediate and sport pilots.

Wing Area/Wing Loading: Wing area is the amount of wing surface available to
create lift. Wing Loading is the weight that a given area of the wing has to lift and is
usually measured in ounces per square foot. Generally, a
light wing loading is best for beginners; the plane will perform better and be easier to
control.

Dihedral: Dihedral is the upward angle of the wings from the fuselage. Dihedral
increases stability and decreases aerobatic ability.

Landing Gear Location: Tricycle gear includes a nose gear and two
wing (main) gears making take-offs and landings easier - ideal for beginners.

Radio Equipment: Most trainer aircraft require no
more than a 3 or 4 channel radio. But which to buy?? Your best
bet is to check with your local hobby store to find out what most of the area
fliers use. If you are planning on learning with a buddy box you
will want something that will be easily hooked up with buddy box equipment that
your instructor may have already. If you opt for one of the new
fancy computer type radios you may find that most of them require an identical
type transmitter to be used as the buddy box. This is particularly true if
you have used any of the computer functions, mixing etc., when setting up your
plane.